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CV-11 Interior Strengthening

建里 〔建里〕 jiàn lǐ

Channel: CV, controlling (rèn) vessel

Modern location: An acupoint located on the upper abdomen, 3 cùn superior to the umbilicus on the midline.

Classical location: Directly above Lower Stomach Duct (CV-10), three cùn above the navel. From The Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (针灸大成 zhēn jiǔ dà chéng)

Local anatomy: The branches of the superior and inferior epigastric arteries. The anterior cutaneous branch of the eighth intercostal nerve.

Action: Moves the spleen and rectifies qì; harmonizes the stomach and disperses accumulation; transforms dampness and loosens the center.

Modern indications: Stomach pain; retching and vomiting; poor appetite; abdominal distension; water swelling.

Classical indications: Abdominal distension with counterflow qì ascent; true heart pain; retching counterflow; no desire for food and drink; abdominal pain and rumbling intestines; fullness of the stomach duct.

Needle stimulus: Needling: 0.5‒1.0 cùn perpendicular insertion. Moxa: 5‒7 cones; pole 20‒30 min.

Point name meaning:

The most meaningful interpretation of this point name relies on the assumption that both ideograms are substitutes for homophones. In ancient times the character () was often used to convey the meaning inherent in its homophone 里, which means interior, inner,or inside, while (jiàn) was often used in place of its homophone 健, meaning healthy or to strengthen. Considered in this light, the point name may be rendered as Interior Strengthening, which is indicative of CV-11‘s function of strengthening the center burner.

CV-11 occupies an established position in the neighborhood of the stomach, between Upper Stomach duct (CV-10) and Lower Stomach duct (CV-12). Since the meaning of the character () can be extended to express the idea of place, the name of this point can also be rendered as Established Place.

Since this point stands in the center of the internal path of food in the digestive tract, the point name could be rendered as Center Stand. See acupoint names: origins, meanings, and translations.

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